Aerial railway



May 6 1924.

G. SAUVOLA AER I AL RAILWAY Filed sept. a

:922 6 sheets-sheet 1 fr? i ,f

May 6 1924. 1,493,393

' G. SAUVOLA AERML RAILWAY Filed sept :.8 19.22. v 6. sheejcs-sheet 2mantoz G 0574/7540/046) [/l/f'r/VESSES 35% if m am" May 6', 1924.`

' G. SUVOLA AERIAL RAILWAY Filed sept. 8 1922 6 sheeis-sheet s May e;1924.

@ERIM-1 RAILWAY Filed Sept. '8

a Qi i e sheets-sheet 41 G. vsAuvoLAr AERIAL RAILWAY May 6 1924.

Filed Sept. 8,

1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 i ff/'V55 M M ffm/nml Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,493,393 PATENT #oT-*Fica GUs'rAF sAUvoLA, or As'roRrA,oaiszcroisr.

AERIAL RAILWAY.

` Application led September'S, 1922. ySerial N'o. 586,921.

lo An object of my invention is to provide an aerialrailway, whereby anautomobile may be adapted to runv on a cable or other suitable elevatedtrack, whereby -it is propelled by its own power. f

A further object of my invention is to provide an aerial railway, whichis applicable to either an automobile or an' electric car, said aerialrailway being provided with suitable trolley. wires wherebyv an electric2o vehicle will be supplied with current to proypel the same.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an aerial railway,in` which an ordinary automobile may be provided with apparatus used inconnection with my invention, in such "a manner that it may efficientlybe used as an aerial conveyance.

A still further objecty of my invention to provide an aerial railway,wherein a complete system of aerial transportation may be had,including' cross overs and turn tables.

yA still further object of my inventionis to provide an aerial railwaythat is provided with suitable loading and unloading junctions atintervals along the line.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an aerial railway,that can be used to advantage in crowded cities, or in crossing bodiesofwater or rough country, that is out of the way of ordinary traffic.

, A still further object of my invention is 'to provide an aerialrailway, that is extremelyefficient in its operation and that is soconstructed as to sustain the usage to l which it is adapted to be put,and that is comparatively simple and inexpensive fin construction andthat is well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed. A

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the coursel of -the following description.

In the drawings, wherein likey numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same, Y

Figure l isa side elevation illustrating lthe method of adapting anordinary autof mobile, to berun upon acable, l Figure 2 is a rearelevation of the same,` Figure 3'is ya detail view of the means wherebythepower is derived fromthe rear wheels of the automobile, to propel thesame along-a cable or track, l

Figure 4 is a top planl view of a track crossr section, used vinconjunction with my invention,

through aturn table, which `is used in my aerial system,

. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the interior thereof, 1 i j VFigure7 is a lview- -illustrating a form of` turn table, and 'a loading systemused with my system, and i Y Figure 8 is a detail view of a post showingmeans thereon for supporting guy wires. In the drawings, wherein for thepurpose of illustrationis shown a preferred embodiment of my invention,the numeral 10'designates any .form of automobile body having` the rearwheels 11-and the front wheels 12. Mounted on the rear wheels 11 is aplate `13 which is held in place by suitable bolts or hooks l'passedthrough the opening 14 -in the plate 18. The plate 13 is provided with'a shaft 116 having a reduced end 17, said por AFigure 5 is a centralvertical section taken i tion `16 having-a sprocket wheel 18 made 1 yintegral therewith. i

Mounted on the reduced portion 17 of the shaftl is a vertical framemember 19 which vis prevented from slipping off of the reduced portion17 by meansof a cotter pin or the like. 20. The reduced portion of theshaft 16 `is adapted to rotate in the lower end'of the vupstanding framemember 19 in a journal 21. An upright frame member 22 hav-4 in'g. ajournal 28 isk mounted on the right `handv shaft 16 on the reduced end17 thereof '27' are provided to hold the shaft'in place.

Mounted directly abovethe sprocket wheels' 18 on the .shaft '16, aresprocket .wheels-28 which are carried by the shaft 24, and a sprocketchain 29 is adapted to connect each msv pair of the sprocket wheels 18and 28. It will thus be seen that by the rotation of the rear wheels 11,the sprocket wheels 18 will be caused to rotate in view of the fact thatthe plate 13 which carries the sprocket wheels 18 is rigidly connectedto said rear wheels, said sprocket wheels 18 causing the sprocket chains29 to operate, thereby rotating the sprocket wheels 28 which are keyedto the shaft 24, thereby rotating the saine.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the right hand verticalframe member 19 is bent at right angles, slightly above the sprocketwheels 28, said member 19 running horizontally for a substantialdistance and again bent at right angles so as to resume a verticaldirection and bent over as is clearly shown in the drawings to 'form aU-shaped viframe. The sides of the U-shaped trame and 31 respectivelyare adapted to receive a shaft 32, on which is mounted a sprocket wheel33, and a wheel 34 similar to a pulley wheel. Mounted directly below thesprocket wheel 33 on the shaft 24 is a Ysprocket whe-el over which asadapted to run a sprocket chain 36 to the sprocket wheel 33. The wheel34 is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable cable or other form of track37.

The right hand vertical frame member 22 terminates a short distanceabove the shaft 37. A similar frame structure is carried by the frontwheels 12 0f the automobile 10 except that there are not sprocket wheelsor sprocket chains, but simply the plate 13 which is carried by thefront wheels 12, which carries a shaft 17 which is journaled to thevertical frame member 22 on the ri'cht hand drive of the machine, and asimilar structure, that is the U-shaped trame 30 and 31 which carries asimilar wheel 34 which is also adapted torun on the cable or track 37TAs is clearly shown in Figi. 1 the longitudinal cross member 38 ismounted on the shafts 27 and 27 said member being provided withdependingr hooks 39 near each end thereof adapted to engage the end of acoil spring 40, the other end of which is connected to outstanding`hooks 41. It will thus be seen that the springs will have a tendency tomaintain the upright frame members 22 and 22 in a vertical position atall times.

It will thus be seen that an automobile or'like vehicle such as clearlyillustrated in the drawings, may be used as an aerial railway. The powerused is derived from the ordinary engine of such vehicles, said enginebeinlconnected to the rear wheels 11 bythe ordinary drive shaft andother mechanism. said rear wheels 11., being the driving wheels. I havedevised means whereby a plate similar to the one 13 is clampedvto therear wheels of the automobile, said plate being provided with a sprocketwheel 18 the guy wires 45.

over which runs a sprocket chain 29. It has been found that Ithe form offrame which I have illustrated is entirely satisfactory for supportingthe vehicle 10 in midair .on the cable 37,'but the same may be changedit conditions warrant it. It will be seen that the sprocket chain 29will rotate the sprocket wheel 2S which is carried by the shaft 24 whichis journaled between the vertical members 19 and 22 respectively. riherotation of the sprocket wheel 28 will rotate the shaft 24 which carriesa similar sprocket wheel 35 over which runs a sprocket chain 36 to asprocket wheel 33 on the shatt 32 which is journaled between the arms ofthe U-shaped member 30. The rotation of the sprocket wheel 33 rotatesthe shaft 32 on which is keyed a suitable wheel member 34 which propelsthe frame carrying the vehicle along the cable or other suitable track37. It is: to be understood that I do not restrict myself tothe form oftrack which should be used. and the cable 37 as is shown is merelyillustrative of a form which may be used.

In order that myy invention may be put to commercial use and advantage Ihave provided means whereby an entire system be had wherein the cars maybe switched from one direction to the other, or two lines may intersectwithout causing any diliiculty. In other words I have made it possibleto have a; complete aerial railway in which traflie may be dispatched invarious directions with ease. Fig. 4 of the drawings clearly illustratesa form of intersection, or tra-ck cross which may be used to advantagein accordance with my invention. The numeral 42 designates posts whichare spaced the desired distance apart, as is deemed advisable. Mountedon the posts 42 are collars-43 which are provided with the hooks 44 towhich are connected The collars 43 may be lsecured to the posts 42 inany desired manner, and I have illustrated a form which may bc used,namely a flange 46 which is carried by the post 42 for the collar 43 tobear upon. Insulator hangers 47 provided with the arms 48 are supportedby means of wires 50 which are secured to said arms bv means ot bolts orother suitable meansv lines and cross lines without any difliculty.

The hangers lao In this way r"in-entire city may be equipped with an'aerialfrailway, that will be even more elicient than the-form'ofconveyances now commonly in use, as there will be no heavy traiiic forthe conveyances to become mixed in, thereby causing delay intransportation, or at any rate accidents.

lIn addition to the form of trackintersection, I have devised what maybe termed a turntable, to direct the vehicle in various directions whenit is'desired,'that is, the turntable may be installed at variousintervals along the line to switch a vehicle, and one may be used at thestarting junction to advantage. An annular housing or frame 53 issupported by'ineans of brackets and 55. The bracket 55 is providedwithdepending arms 56. which will more fully be discussed below. 4Thebracketf is pro-` vided with a vertical shaft 57, which is provided nearits lower end with' a beveled gear 58. The numeral 59 designateslalongitudinal shaft, that is provided with a small beveled 'gear thatisadapted to mesh with the large beveled'gear 53 on -the shaft'?.4

The oppositeend of the shaft 59 is provided with a wheel`61 whichisadapted to run around the-upper edge ofthe .housing 53.

Mounted within the housing 53 are the cross members 62, which are`carried by theshafts 59 by means of suitable supporting clips 63. As isclearly shown Ain the drawings, lthe cross sections '62 are providedwith cut out portions 64, to allow' for the frame of the vehicle to passtherebetween. Thebottom of the` cross sections 62 are lprovidedwithtrack members 65 on both sides thereof-as is clearly shownjin Fig. 5ofthe drawings. The numeral 66 designates` pivotedj track sections whichare secured, near" the inner end ofthe trackportions'65 by means vofVsuitable bolts or other4 pivoting` means 6T.

The pivoted track sections `66v are normally heldv in a verticalposition by. means of a suitable spring 68,v and it will beseenpthatwhen the wheel .34 strikes the section, it will pull it down `intohorizontal jpositiontherebv spanning the openingVr 64 `and allowing thewheels to pass on.` As soon as the wheel 34 passes over the endv ofthepivoted section 66 the spring 68 will raiseitl again to a verticalposition, so that Yit will be lout 'of the wayif it is desired to swingTanv of the other pivoted track ,sections 66 down into an operativeposition. l i i y It is to be noted in r1g..6 of the drawings, that thedepending arms 56l of the .bracket '55 are fastened to the'cross. vane62 so as to give additional'strength. lingsxtiQ'are mounted on theannular housing 53 adjacent thev openings'70 in said housing which areadaptedio register with the-openings 64:v

Jformed in the cross sect-'ions .62. Thefwings are also provided withtrack sections 71a`nd a pivoted track section 72 similar to the ing thevehicle', to be run down'toftheI groundto` discharge passengersorto-take/on-,the

"saine, or for repairs whenit. is necessary.

As' isshown lin Fig. 7, the track v73 maybe mounted on a' post'74. N

'pivoted track section `66. The tracks' are v vadapted to be" connectedto the track sections 71 oi the wings 69. Asis clearly ,shown in It isof course necessary to yprovide means whereby the cross members 62 in aybe rotated withinthe casing 53, and Ihave devised rrneans whereby 'itvcan be done'imechanically or electrically. InFig. 5 of the drawings'onthe-letthand side I have illustrated an electric motor which maybe yusedto rotate the cross niembersQ. A: kpulley wheel 75 is .mounted on the"shaft591andk f.

over which is adapted to be yrun. a pulley belt 76 which is operated. bythepulley77' of themotor 78. Itv will thus be seenthat when the motorl7S is run the pulley 75 'by reason 'of the pulley belt 7 6 will'berotated thereby rotating the shaft 59 lwhich will,

rotate the pinion y60 whichmeshes with the` large gear 58. It'isofcourse to be under- `stood that the gear 58 isv stationary` and fthereby` allowing the pinion 60 Eto? rotate Varound the same, carryingwith "it the shaft 59 and the wheel 6l which vv"will runalong thel topedge of vthe housing 53. @If it iswnot lconvenient to have electricity',a `starting wheel A79 be mounted on the shaft-59 as clearly yshown onthe right Vhand 'side'of the drawings in liig. 5and along sprocketvchainBO adaptedto run thereover, :in such A,a manner that when lthesprocketchain is lmoved the sprocket wheel l7 9 will Imove likewisecausing the wheel 61'toz`ride around 'the top of the housin'g-53; f y AItis of course to` be understood that street cars, that 'are'adapted tobe used on'an aerial cable, ymay. be, used in accordance with myinvention equally well as an automobile as illustrated, and to thisend,`-I"have pro- In the operation Vof an aerial system as'Vl lhavefully described, an automobile ymaybe equipped. with 'fan' apparatus',as isjrclearly shown in the drawings. "With suchacon- @struction theyvehicle (may be'propelled on a cable or other track 37`by its ownAypower,-

that isthe power that` is ordinarly used lin such conveyancesfywhen itruns on the" ground. In otherwords, aplatejsimila'r to theplate 13 asshownin Fig. 3 ofthe 'drawings is clamped. lonthe 'rear wheels 11b-'ymeans lof suitable boltsor'" hooks-I3.

sprocket wheel 1'8 lis 'nia-dei' iategrairthera with and thereby therotation of the wheels 11 which carry the plate 13 will rotate thesprocket wheel 18. It will of course be seen that it is not necessary touse sprocket wheels or chains, as a form of pitman could be used equallyas satisfactorily, but I will explain the form wherein sprocket wheelsand sprocket chains are used. The sprocket wheel 18 is adapted to rotatethe sprocket chain 29 which runs over the sprocket wheel 28 which iscarriedr by the shaft 24, which is journaled between the vertical framemembers 19 and 22 which are carried by the shaft 17 which are carried bythe plate 13. The rotation of the sprocket wheel 28 rotates the shaft 24on which is carried a sprocket wheel 35 which operates a sprocket chain36 which rims over a similar sprocket wheel 33 which is carried by theshaft 32, which is mounted between the arms 31 and 30 of the U-shapedframe member, which is carried by the upright member 19. It will thus beseen that the wheel 311 which is keyed to the shaft 32 will be rotated,thereby propelling the vehicle along the cable or other form of track36. As shown in Figs. 4 and 8 of the drawings, I. have clearlyillustrated a form vof track intersection which may be used, theoperation of which is clearly understood from the foregoing description.

As is clearly shown yin Fig. 7 of kthe drawings, an efficient method isdevised whereby the bodies or vehicles 10 may be lowered so as todischarge or take on passengers or the like. It will clearly be seenthat the track 73 is an inclined track leading from the wing 69 which iscarried by the housing 53 of the turn table structure. The track 73 isconnected at its other end to a comparatively short post 74, somedistance away from said turn table structure. There may be as manytracks 73 as is deemed advisable, and of course in a large system ofaerial transportation it would be necessary to have a great many suchtracks as is clearly shown in Fig. 7 but the explanation of one willsuiiice for the others. We will now assume that there is a vehicle suchas is illustrated by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 of the drawings, locatedon the lower end of the inclined track 73. This vehicle is propelled upthe inclined track 7 3 onto the track portion 71 which is carried by thewing 69 of the housing 53, of the turn table structure. Of course, if itis desired to run the conveyance on to the track 73 and not to changethe course of the conveyance, it is not necessary that the conveyance bestopped and run on to the turn table mechanism. However, assuming thatit is desired to turn the automobile in the opposite direction to whichit is now pointed. It is of course. to be understood that we are nowdiscussing the left hand wing 69. After the `conveyance has run up thetrack section 73 onto the track 71 and is kept moving it will strike thevertical track section 72 causing it to fall down and close the gap andallow the car to pass onto the track of the cross sections 62 within thecasing 63.r

It will also strike the pivoted track section 66, which is pivoted toone section 65 causing it to swing down and rest on the opposite tracksection 55. Theconveyance can now be stopped,` and by operating the.sprocket chain 8O over thesprocket wheel 79 the cross section 62 can bemade to turn by reason of the wheel 61 running around the upper edge ofthe annular casing 53 which is caused by means of the sprocket wheel 79keyed to the shaft 59 which is provided with the beveled gear 60 at itsopposite end. The beveled gear 60 meshes with the stationary beveledgear 58 which acts as a support lfor the cross section 62. The crosssection 62 may be rotated as far as is desired, and the conveyance maybe switched back onto any of the outgoing tracks with very littledifficulty'. This, instead of. having an automobile as shown in thedrawings, a street car is used, 1t is necessary to provide a trolleywire 8l which is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings as being brokenat 82 to allow the same to be carried by the cross section 62 when thesame is rotated. In the event it is possible to have electricity thecross section 62 may be rotated by means of a motor 78 which operatesthe pulley belt 76 `over the pulley wheel 75 which is keyed to the shaft59. By the use of this turn table structure, a conveyance may bedispatched in various directions thereby forming a more satisfactorysystem, than if such a turn table were not in use. It is of course to beunderstood, that the turn table structures may be placed at intervalsalong the system to advantage, and that any form of track may be used,such as a cable 37. 0r if it is deemed advisable, various other forms oftrack sections. It may be deemed advisable to use a form of rack har andpinion, especially on the inclined track 73.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is 1. Incombination with an elevated railway, an annular housing, a rotatableturn table mounted within said annular housing, said turn table membercomprising two intersecting sections, said vintersecting sections beingprovided with cut out portions at their intersections, and pivoted tracksections carried by the lower end of said cross sections.

2. In combination with an elevated rail way, a turn table comprising anannular housing, cross turn table sections mounted 'within said annularhousing, wings carried on the outside of said annular housing, openingsin said wings, and pivoted track sect-ions adapted to be normally heldin a Vertical position.

3. In combination with an elevated railway, a turn table comprising anannular housing, cross turn table sections mounted within said annularhousing, said cross sections beingprovided with cut out portions nearthe lower end thereof, pivoted track sections mounted in close proximityto said cut out portions and adapted to be swun down to span said cutout portions, trac sections carried by the lower end of said crosssections, means carrled on the outs ide of said annular housing, cut outpor-` I tions belng provlded 1n said annular housing in close'proximityto said wings, and means to rotate said cross turn table sections. v

4. In combination with an elevated railway, a turn table comprising anannular housing, a cross .turn vtable .member mounted within saidannular housing, `means to rotate said cross turn table section, and aninclined track carried by said annular housing.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. GUSTAF SAUVOLA. Witnesses: Y f

F. M. FRANoIsoovIoH, A. W. NORBLAD.

